3. Then He told them many things in parables, saying, “Listen! A sower went out to sow.
4. While he sowed, some seeds fell beside the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
5. But other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up because they did not have deep soil.
6. But when the sun rose, they were scorched. And because they did not take root, they withered away.
7. Some seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8. But other seeds fell into good ground and produced grain: a hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much.
9. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”
10. The disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11. He answered them, “It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12. For to him who has, will more be given, and he will have abundance. But from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
13. Therefore I speak to them in parables: ‘Because they look, but do not see.And they listen, but they do not hear, neither do they understand.’
14. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: ‘By hearing, you will hear and shall not understand,and seeing, you will see and shall not perceive;
15. for this people’s heart has grown dull.Their ears have become hard of hearing,and they have closed their eyes,lest they should see with their eyesand hear with their earsand understand with their hearts,and turn, and I should heal them.’
16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.
18. “Therefore listen to the parable of the sower.